19 May 2004

PNG's PNC party angered at re-shuffle

4:37 pm on 19 May 2004

Papua New Guinea' s acting governor-general, Bill Skate, has reacted strongly to yesterday's government re-shuffle which saw the sacking of all cabinet members of his party, the People's National Congress.

Mr Skate is also the speaker of parliament and the Regional MP for the National Capital District.

He is angered that he is the only party member left in high office and that he was made to sign off the dismissal of his own party members and sign in their replacements at Government House.

The Post Courier newspaper says he was overheard as saying that the fight has just begun.

The People's National Congress had refused to back a proposed constitutional change to lengthen the grace period for a government against a possible vote of no confidence.

The reshuffle saw seven ministers sacked, including the deputy prime minister, Moses Maladina.